You might know that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be dangerous if it’s not treated properly, but did you know that the average person with BPD isn’t getting the treatment they need? If you think you or someone you love might have BPD, check out these five signs of borderline personality disorder. If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone else, consult a mental health professional immediately to get help treating BPD before things get worse!
Table of Contents
1. Impulsive Behavior
People with BPD often have a hard time controlling their impulses, which can lead to a lot of self-destructive behavior. Impulsivity is also one of BPD’s most defining traits. It’s important to note that those with BPD don’t feel as if they have control over their actions—it just feels as if they don’t have a choice. In general, impulsivity is associated with living in the moment, but those who have it associate it with feeling insecure and not having any safety nets for their actions.
2. Mood Swings
Mood swings are a defining feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD), a type of mental illness that makes it difficult to function in daily life. People with BPD often struggle with intense emotions, impulsive behavior, and unstable relationships. As a result, those with BPD can struggle to form close relationships or keep them going. For instance, if your friend is struggling with BPD, he may suddenly begin to avoid you due to fears that you don’t care about him as much as he cares about you. In addition to interpersonal issues, mood swings make it hard for those with BPD to hold down jobs and stay out of trouble. Those who live and work closely with someone struggling from BPD will often notice sudden changes in mood and erratic behavior that has no discernible cause.
3. Fear of Abandonment
It is difficult for people with BPD to make and maintain meaningful relationships. People with BPD may feel abandoned when a friend or partner wants to spend time away from them, or when a family member doesn’t want to take care of them. It is common for them to see these events as a sign that their loved ones don’t care about them anymore, even though they have no real evidence that their loved one will stop caring about them. This can cause major problems in relationships. In order to better deal with feelings related to fear of abandonment, it helps if you understand what might be causing your fear and learn healthy ways to cope with those fears.
4. Unstable Relationships
One common trait among people with BPD is that they struggle with self-image issues. If you see your loved one consistently struggling to determine who they are and how they fit into their own life, it’s important to understand that it may be a sign of borderline personality disorder. You can help them find therapy or encourage them to seek treatment so they can begin working on improving their image. Helping your loved one see themselves more positively will help ease some symptoms of BPD.
5. Self-Image Issues
Self-image issues are common in people with BPD. Some view themselves as worthless or unlovable, while others see themselves as brilliant or incredibly talented. It’s important to remember that both views are distorted—it’s not uncommon for people with BPD to have an inflated sense of self-worth or to be incredibly hard on themselves. If you suspect that someone has BPD, it might be worth asking them how they see themselves and what they value most in life.
How To Treat BPD
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is hard to detect, but you can recognize it by spotting certain signs. If you know someone with BPD, encourage them to seek treatment. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) has proven effective in treating borderline personality disorder and other mental illnesses.